Like many in California, we are heartbroken over the destruction caused by the ongoing wildfires throughout our state.

As of this writing, we have confirmed that the Camp Fire in Butte County has destroyed the homes of 2 of our Education Specialists (ESs) and 14 families. We have another 23 families that live in and around the area of the fire who have not yet been able to confirm if their house is still standing.This is a life changing event for these families and our thoughts are with them during their long road to rebuilding.

Our IEM school, South Sutter Charter, is coordinating with their curriculum library to get families that have lost school owned items, replacement curriculum without cost to their Instructional Funding. We are also providing flexibility and support to help them with their educational needs during this time.

Many in our IEM Charter Schools community have asked how they can help. I am moved by the quick action of many of our families and employees in South Sutter Charter School that live near Butte County who have driven up to work at distribution centers, provided food service, opened their homes to first responders and displaced people, and volunteer at shelters.

Because of the spread out nature of our schools, not all of us are able to help in such a way, however, each of us can give to support our community that is facing a heavy loss. We’ve compiled two ways you can help if you are interested.

• Purchase a gift card to Walmart, Target, Winco, Safeway, or Trader Joe’s and send it by November 30th to:

Innovative Education Management – Camp Fire
4535 Missouri Flat Rd #1A
Placerville, CA 95667

These are local retailers that victims can easily access to help with their immediate needs. We will collect all gift cards and then disperse them to our affected families via their ES. We have chosen this option as opposed to setting up a Go Fund Me because this way 100% of your donation goes to the families rather than to service fees. Donations of physical goods (i.e. clothing, houseware etc.) is not needed at this time.

• Donate online to the North Valley Community Foundation at www.nvcf.org. This Chico based charity knows the community and is mobilized to help fire victims over the short term and long term. Donations here will go to all victims, not just South Sutter families.

Thank you for coming together as a community and for your concern of others who, like you, only want the best for their children which is why they chose a personalized learning approach through IEM Charter Schools. May we all be thankful for the gift of life and family, and may we keep the fire victims in our thoughts during this time.